Electric Collar Training- Robin MacFarlane

In the dog training world there are about a thousand and one different styles of thinking.  This training is using clickers.  That one uses treats.  That one uses training collars.  And that one barks at his dogs when they disobey.

While there is no shortage of differences of opinion it seems like one topic is the most controversial  Gets people the most angry.  Causes the most arguments.

I’m referring, of course, to electric collar training.

When it comes to electric collar training Robin MacFarlane of That’s My Dog in Iowa is a recognized expert.  I wanted to get on the podcast to explain her take.

Electric Collar Training- Listen In

Click play below to listen in.

Electric Collar Training- Our Take

So you may be wondering where we at CommuniCanine fall into the debate.

The answer is that we’re big fans of this style of training.  Like Robin we get a lot of clients who send us their dogs from out of state and we get tons of Utah dog training clients who come to us specifically for our expertise in electric collar training.  We like the style so much that we’ve even produced our own product line on how to properly do electric collar training.

For those who don’t understand this style of training they often ask….

‘Why would you like electric collar training?  Do you like shocking your dog?’

Robin spoke about that same topic in the podcast above but let me add my own perspective.  When this training is done right it is done with low levels that are communicative in nature.  They don’t cause pain.  They aren’t geared to hurt the dog.  At all.  Like she mentioned, it’s not much more than a tap on the shoulder to get attention.

The reasons we like this training and have developed unique programs that get unique results are:

• It is a very humane way to train.  No matter what kind of training you do there is going to be some sort of correction.  The correction may be a leash tug, some people hit or smack their dog (NOT a good idea), yell, take away a treat, say a stern ‘no’, etc.  Regardless, there is always some sort of corrective measure.  The e-collar allows one to use some of the most gentle correction available.  When you get more gentle (take away a treat, simply say ‘no’) you find that those types of correction carry no meaning to the average dog.
• It is a much faster way to train a dog.  We’ve had clients come to us who have been going to other trainers for months or even years.  In most of these cases we can accomplish in minutes or days with an electric training collar what they weren’t able to accomplish in months.  The clearness of the communication and the ability to mark behaviors with 100% precision allows the learning process to be much faster with this style of training.
• We’re able to get results where others don’t.  We are often the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th trainer that dog owners call.  With our electric training collar methods we’re able to get results that just aren’t achieved with a more traditional ‘treat training’ type of approach.

A huge thanks to Robin for this interview.  Tons of great info!

Related Posts:

• Shop
• Can EVEN Your Dog Be Trained?
• Treat Training Is The Least Humane Way To Train A Dog
• Don’t Have Time to Train Your Dog? Integrate It
• Utah Dog Training- Tethering

The post Electric Collar Training- Interview With Robin MacFarlane appeared first on Utah Dog Training.

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Electric Collar Training- Robin MacFarlane

In the dog training world there are about a thousand and one different styles of thinking.  This training is using clickers.  That one uses treats.  That one uses training collars.  And that one barks at his dogs when they disobey.

While there is no shortage of differences of opinion it seems like one topic is the most controversial  Gets people the most angry.  Causes the most arguments.

I’m referring, of course, to electric collar training.

When it comes to electric collar training Robin MacFarlane of That’s My Dog in Iowa is a recognized expert.  I wanted to get on the podcast to explain her take.

Electric Collar Training- Listen In

Click play below to listen in.

Electric Collar Training- Our Take

So you may be wondering where we at CommuniCanine fall into the debate.

The answer is that we’re big fans of this style of training.  Like Robin we get a lot of clients who send us their dogs from out of state and we get tons of Utah dog training clients who come to us specifically for our expertise in electric collar training.  We like the style so much that we’ve even produced our own product line on how to properly do electric collar training.

For those who don’t understand this style of training they often ask….

‘Why would you like electric collar training?  Do you like shocking your dog?’

Robin spoke about that same topic in the podcast above but let me add my own perspective.  When this training is done right it is done with low levels that are communicative in nature.  They don’t cause pain.  They aren’t geared to hurt the dog.  At all.  Like she mentioned, it’s not much more than a tap on the shoulder to get attention.

The reasons we like this training and have developed unique programs that get unique results are:

• It is a very humane way to train.  No matter what kind of training you do there is going to be some sort of correction.  The correction may be a leash tug, some people hit or smack their dog (NOT a good idea), yell, take away a treat, say a stern ‘no’, etc.  Regardless, there is always some sort of corrective measure.  The e-collar allows one to use some of the most gentle correction available.  When you get more gentle (take away a treat, simply say ‘no’) you find that those types of correction carry no meaning to the average dog.
• It is a much faster way to train a dog.  We’ve had clients come to us who have been going to other trainers for months or even years.  In most of these cases we can accomplish in minutes or days with an electric training collar what they weren’t able to accomplish in months.  The clearness of the communication and the ability to mark behaviors with 100% precision allows the learning process to be much faster with this style of training.
• We’re able to get results where others don’t.  We are often the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th trainer that dog owners call.  With our electric training collar methods we’re able to get results that just aren’t achieved with a more traditional ‘treat training’ type of approach.

A huge thanks to Robin for this interview.  Tons of great info!

Dog Training- Why Wait?

We run into a lot of dog owners who are in a holding pattern.

They know their dog has issues.  They even say they are working on those issues.  But they are waiting for their dog to ‘get just a bit better’ before they start doing this, that, or the other.

The great thing about dogs is they live in the here and now.  Past experiences definitely dictate present behavior…but dogs are very happy to leave past behaviors in the past provided a new and better option opens up.

Take this great little Belgian Malinos, Cherry, in the video below.

Cherry came to us just three days ago.  She’s a sweetheart without a mean bone in her body.

She did have an issue with getting over-excited and over-stimulated by children, though.  She had jumped on the owner’s grandchildren and scratched them up.  She was only playing.  But it wasn’t appropriate behavior by a long shot.

From day one in our boot camp program we exposed her to her weakness.  We made sure to keep control, though.  In the beginning stages she was always on a leash.  When you are addressing behaviors with your dog you MUST always make sure that you can control the outcome.  That’s where the leash came in.

Along with keeping her on a leash we started teaching her to lie down and stay.  You see, dog training is more about teaching what you want the dog to do and less about getting frustrated about the bad things the dog does.

In this case, we didn’t want to get frustrated about the dog’s inappropriate behavior towards children.  Instead, we wanted to teach her what else she could do.  In this case, the what else was to simply to lie down and stay.

At my house, we’ve got plenty of little distractions running around so here she is just a few days in staying like a champ while my daughters run around like crazy people.

Your dog can do this, too.  Just because your dog has been acting one way today, yesterday, and for the past months/years it doesn’t mean that tomorrow can’t be entirely different.  Time to get to work!

Related Posts:

• Don’t Have Time to Train Your Dog? Integrate It
• Can EVEN Your Dog Be Trained?
• Utah Dog Training- Tethering
• Happy Client!
• Salt Lake City Dog Training- Case Study

The post Are You Working on Your Dog’s Weakness Right Away? appeared first on Utah Dog Training.

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Dog Training- Why Wait?

We run into a lot of dog owners who are in a holding pattern.

They know their dog has issues.  They even say they are working on those issues.  But they are waiting for their dog to ‘get just a bit better’ before they start doing this, that, or the other.

The great thing about dogs is they live in the here and now.  Past experiences definitely dictate present behavior…but dogs are very happy to leave past behaviors in the past provided a new and better option opens up.

Take this great little Belgian Malinos, Cherry, in the video below.

Cherry came to us just three days ago.  She’s a sweetheart without a mean bone in her body.

She did have an issue with getting over-excited and over-stimulated by children, though.  She had jumped on the owner’s grandchildren and scratched them up.  She was only playing.  But it wasn’t appropriate behavior by a long shot.

From day one in our boot camp program we exposed her to her weakness.  We made sure to keep control, though.  In the beginning stages she was always on a leash.  When you are addressing behaviors with your dog you MUST always make sure that you can control the outcome.  That’s where the leash came in.

Along with keeping her on a leash we started teaching her to lie down and stay.  You see, dog training is more about teaching what you want the dog to do and less about getting frustrated about the bad things the dog does.

In this case, we didn’t want to get frustrated about the dog’s inappropriate behavior towards children.  Instead, we wanted to teach her what else she could do.  In this case, the what else was to simply to lie down and stay.

At my house, we’ve got plenty of little distractions running around so here she is just a few days in staying like a champ while my daughters run around like crazy people.

Your dog can do this, too.  Just because your dog has been acting one way today, yesterday, and for the past months/years it doesn’t mean that tomorrow can’t be entirely different.  Time to get to work!

Utah Dog Training- Tethering, What is it?

At our Utah dog training company we get calls from dog owners in all different states.  Some are dealing with major aggression issues, heavy destruction problems, manners breakdowns, and a variety of other dog problems.  Others are just wanting to improve their dog’s obedience, their relationship with their dog, and gain better control.

Regardless of where most of our clients are in their dog journey we find that in almost all cases everyone can use more control around the house and a better responsiveness from their dog.  With almost all of our new clients we recommend a protocol called ‘tethering’ to begin any new training program.

Tethering is the act of keeping your dog on a leash when you’re with the dog.  All the time.  Indoors and outdoors.  I always tell our clients that it’s no fun to tether but it pays a lot of dividends.

Utah Dog Training- Benefits of Tethering

Many will ask why you should tether your dog.  There are various benefits to this:

• Relationship.  There is something very real that happens when your dog is attached to you all day through a leash.  By default the dog starts seeing you as a leader because you are literally leading the dog around the house and yard.
• Keeping a leash on your dog allows you to be all-seeing and all-knowing.  Many of the bigger dog training problems that our clients report involve giving a dog too much freedom too quickly.  By keeping your dog on a leash and with you at all times your dog is never allowed to wander off to go to the bathroom or chew up your stuff.  As your dog becomes accustomed to NOT doing those things it is a simple way to condition your dog to be house trained and non-destructive.
• A leash allows you to train obedience.  How many of you attempt to train your dogs verbally?  I know that most of you do.  By that I mean that you TELL your dog to come or sit or lie down or stay.  If dogs could learn through simply being told then we wouldn’t have jobs.  Dogs learn through being shown.  Keeping a leash on your dog allows you to SHOW your dog how to sit or lie down or stay, etc.

Utah Dog Training- How long?

The question we often get is ‘how long do we have to tether?’

The better you do it the sooner you don’t have to.  The leash allows you to condition behavior and soon you’ll not need to keep that leash on.

At our Utah dog training company we have various programs and in those programs we go into detail about how to get rid of that leash as soon as possible.  Needless to say, though, don’t rush.  A month or more on a leash will pay a lifetime of dividends.

Related Posts:

• Don’t Have Time to Train Your Dog? Integrate It
• Perfect Dog Program
• Perfect Dog Lite
• Perfect Dog Plus
• Obedience Training Methods

The post Utah Dog Training- Tethering appeared first on Utah Dog Training.

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Utah Dog Training- Tethering, What is it?

At our Utah dog training company we get calls from dog owners in all different states.  Some are dealing with major aggression issues, heavy destruction problems, manners breakdowns, and a variety of other dog problems.  Others are just wanting to improve their dog’s obedience, their relationship with their dog, and gain better control.

Regardless of where most of our clients are in their dog journey we find that in almost all cases everyone can use more control around the house and a better responsiveness from their dog.  With almost all of our new clients we recommend a protocol called ‘tethering’ to begin any new training program.

Tethering is the act of keeping your dog on a leash when you’re with the dog.  All the time.  Indoors and outdoors.  I always tell our clients that it’s no fun to tether but it pays a lot of dividends.

Utah Dog Training- Benefits of Tethering

Many will ask why you should tether your dog.  There are various benefits to this:

• Relationship.  There is something very real that happens when your dog is attached to you all day through a leash.  By default the dog starts seeing you as a leader because you are literally leading the dog around the house and yard.
• Keeping a leash on your dog allows you to be all-seeing and all-knowing.  Many of the bigger dog training problems that our clients report involve giving a dog too much freedom too quickly.  By keeping your dog on a leash and with you at all times your dog is never allowed to wander off to go to the bathroom or chew up your stuff.  As your dog becomes accustomed to NOT doing those things it is a simple way to condition your dog to be house trained and non-destructive.
• A leash allows you to train obedience.  How many of you attempt to train your dogs verbally?  I know that most of you do.  By that I mean that you TELL your dog to come or sit or lie down or stay.  If dogs could learn through simply being told then we wouldn’t have jobs.  Dogs learn through being shown.  Keeping a leash on your dog allows you to SHOW your dog how to sit or lie down or stay, etc.

Utah Dog Training- How long?

The question we often get is ‘how long do we have to tether?’

The better you do it the sooner you don’t have to.  The leash allows you to condition behavior and soon you’ll not need to keep that leash on.

At our Utah dog training company we have various programs and in those programs we go into detail about how to get rid of that leash as soon as possible.  Needless to say, though, don’t rush.  A month or more on a leash will pay a lifetime of dividends.

Salt Lake City Dog Trainers- Which Style?

All dog training was not created equal.  If you’ve been researching Salt Lake City dog trainers you’ve certainly noticed that there are a variety of different options available.  Some trainers have been in the business for years, some are just starting up.  All dog trainers, though, tend to prescribe to a certain style of training.

This is important to understand.  Many dog owners are looking to make their dog trainer choice based on price or closeness to their home or for other such reasons.  The problem with using those qualifications, though, is it ignores who is going to get the best results based on the training style they use.

It’s up to the dog owner to investigate different styles of dog training in order to make the best decision for their dog and family.

Salt Lake City Dog Trainers- Two Styles Available

Every one of the Salt Lake City dog trainers you will find will most definitely have different styles, skill sets, and abilities.  When it boils down to it, though, there are essentially two different approaches that a dog trainer will take

1- Purely positive/Treat Training/Clicker Training- There are a variety of ways that you’ll see this style called.  While there is plenty of variation within this style but what a lot of the method is based on is:

a- Using food rewards to teach positive behaviors you want the dog to understand.  For example, you would give a treat when the dog sits on command, lies down on command, etc.

b- Removing the reward for bad behavior or ignoring bad behavior.  For example, if the dog jumps on you the idea is to turn your back and ignore the dog.  The theory is that the dog will realize that jumping doesn’t lead to fun and the dog will stop.  Or if the dog opts not to sit or come when called the idea is to withhold the treat so that the dog realizes he gets greater pleasure in doing the desired behavior.

2- A balanced approach or what we call a ‘Stabilized Approach’ to dog training- This stye relies on using balance in teaching.  Rewards are given as is plenty of positive motivation when the dog does something correct.  Once the dog has learned the desired behavior the dog is also given corrections for non-compliance.

This style is called ‘balanced’ because it uses both ends of a ‘learning spectrum’.

Salt Lake City Dog Trainers- Pro’s and Cons

While you’ll find various Salt Lake City dog trainers who prescribe to each of these different styles what many may not tell you are the pros and cons of either method.

• Pros.  As far as the Purely Positive method goes there are various items in the plus column.  This style of training can be very fun for the dog and owner.  Dogs can learn quickly with Purely Positive.
• For a balanced approach there are also many pros.  Dogs will learn obedience to a higher level and a balanced approach has the capacity to fix problems that purely positive can’t such as certain aggression issues, certain destruction issues, and various anxiety issues.  A balanced approach will find solutions for these problems that a purely positive approach can’t due to the fact that the purely positive style utilizes just one end of a learning spectrum.
• Cons. The cons of the purely positive approach lead right into the pros of the balanced approach.  A purely positive approach will never get the same level of obedience, manners, and behavior from a dog.  The reasoning is simple.  There are just too many things that are more interesting and important to a dog than a treat.  For example, most dogs are more interested in a cat running across a street, someone ringing a doorbell, the trigger of their fear or aggression, than they are with getting a treat.  Proponents of this method will tell you that you merely need to build up the dogs distraction tolerance but this tends to just work in theory and not in practicality.
• Cons with a balanced approach are that it takes a good skill level in order to do this approach humanely.  There are many proponents of this method who claim to be balanced but say that merely because they pat their dog on the head for doing a good job.  Trainers with true experience and skill will help both dogs and owners teach the dog how to really want to be obedient for the pleasure of working hand-in-paw with the owners.

What it all goes rests on is looking for the results that each side produces and matching that with the goals you have for your dog.  If you are simply looking for some tricks or light obedience then a purely positive method that you would find at a pet store or other such trainer could be what the doctor ordered.  If you’re looking for real life obedience or to fix some of the real challenges that dog owners have you’re going to want to look at a more balanced approach.

Related Posts:

• Dog Training Prices
• Dog Behavior Problems
• Perfect Dog Program
• Electric Collar Training- Interview With Robin MacFarlane
• Dog Aggression and Aggressive Dogs

The post Salt Lake City Dog Trainers- Should You Use Treats? appeared first on Utah Dog Training.

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Salt Lake City Dog Trainers- Which Style?

All dog training was not created equal.  If you’ve been researching Salt Lake City dog trainers you’ve certainly noticed that there are a variety of different options available.  Some trainers have been in the business for years, some are just starting up.  All dog trainers, though, tend to prescribe to a certain style of training.

This is important to understand.  Many dog owners are looking to make their dog trainer choice based on price or closeness to their home or for other such reasons.  The problem with using those qualifications, though, is it ignores who is going to get the best results based on the training style they use.

It’s up to the dog owner to investigate different styles of dog training in order to make the best decision for their dog and family.

Salt Lake City Dog Trainers- Two Styles Available

Every one of the Salt Lake City dog trainers you will find will most definitely have different styles, skill sets, and abilities.  When it boils down to it, though, there are essentially two different approaches that a dog trainer will take

1- Purely positive/Treat Training/Clicker Training- There are a variety of ways that you’ll see this style called.  While there is plenty of variation within this style but what a lot of the method is based on is:

a- Using food rewards to teach positive behaviors you want the dog to understand.  For example, you would give a treat when the dog sits on command, lies down on command, etc.

b- Removing the reward for bad behavior or ignoring bad behavior.  For example, if the dog jumps on you the idea is to turn your back and ignore the dog.  The theory is that the dog will realize that jumping doesn’t lead to fun and the dog will stop.  Or if the dog opts not to sit or come when called the idea is to withhold the treat so that the dog realizes he gets greater pleasure in doing the desired behavior.

2- A balanced approach or what we call a ‘Stabilized Approach’ to dog training- This stye relies on using balance in teaching.  Rewards are given as is plenty of positive motivation when the dog does something correct.  Once the dog has learned the desired behavior the dog is also given corrections for non-compliance.

This style is called ‘balanced’ because it uses both ends of a ‘learning spectrum’.

Salt Lake City Dog Trainers- Pro’s and Cons

While you’ll find various Salt Lake City dog trainers who prescribe to each of these different styles what many may not tell you are the pros and cons of either method.

• Pros.  As far as the Purely Positive method goes there are various items in the plus column.  This style of training can be very fun for the dog and owner.  Dogs can learn quickly with Purely Positive.
• For a balanced approach there are also many pros.  Dogs will learn obedience to a higher level and a balanced approach has the capacity to fix problems that purely positive can’t such as certain aggression issues, certain destruction issues, and various anxiety issues.  A balanced approach will find solutions for these problems that a purely positive approach can’t due to the fact that the purely positive style utilizes just one end of a learning spectrum.
• Cons. The cons of the purely positive approach lead right into the pros of the balanced approach.  A purely positive approach will never get the same level of obedience, manners, and behavior from a dog.  The reasoning is simple.  There are just too many things that are more interesting and important to a dog than a treat.  For example, most dogs are more interested in a cat running across a street, someone ringing a doorbell, the trigger of their fear or aggression, than they are with getting a treat.  Proponents of this method will tell you that you merely need to build up the dogs distraction tolerance but this tends to just work in theory and not in practicality.
• Cons with a balanced approach are that it takes a good skill level in order to do this approach humanely.  There are many proponents of this method who claim to be balanced but say that merely because they pat their dog on the head for doing a good job.  Trainers with true experience and skill will help both dogs and owners teach the dog how to really want to be obedient for the pleasure of working hand-in-paw with the owners.

What it all goes rests on is looking for the results that each side produces and matching that with the goals you have for your dog.  If you are simply looking for some tricks or light obedience then a purely positive method that you would find at a pet store or other such trainer could be what the doctor ordered.  If you’re looking for real life obedience or to fix some of the real challenges that dog owners have you’re going to want to look at a more balanced approach.

We have a lot of dog training clients who are busy like everybody else.  If they aren’t rushing home from work they are rushing away to grab dinner, take the kids to soccer, piano lessons, or go grocery shopping.  Training the dog often takes a back seat to other daily activities.

The truth is…. I can’t blame you.  Today’s busy schedule leaves little time to get your canine buddy trained.

Just because it leaves little time, though, doesn’t mean that it isn’t critical that you get your dog trained.

At CommuniCanine we’ve developed a simple program we call ‘Integration Training’.  What that means is that you don’t need to take special time out of your day to train the dog.  Rather, you need to take advantage of the what you’re doing and integrate the training into your daily activities.

For example, here is a quick video of our head trainer, Joe, doing some training with some of our boot camp dogs:

Integration Training On YoutubeYou can do this style of training as well.  It will maximize your time and, even better, your dog will get trained to a higher level.  The reason being is that your dog gets trained as life happens, not in specified training times that don’t feel real to your pet.

Here are a few tips for integration training:

1. Always start out with your dog on a leash.  With all of our clients we start out with their dog on a leash, even around the house.  The reason being is that you are always in a position to guide, correct, motivate, etc. if your dog is on a leash.  If your dog isn’t on a leash then your only options are talking to your dog or trying to grab your dog.  Neither of those options are helpful.  Don’t be in a rush to have your dog off leash.  You can’t have an off leash trained dog until you have an on leash trained dog.
2. Use common activities to train.  I’m willing to bet you eat at least a meal at home every day.  Use that 10-30 minutes to train your dog to lie on his bed.  How many times do you go through doorways?  How about taking 5 seconds when you go through a doorway to have your dog wait? Have your dog sit before eating, use backyard ‘potty time’ to work on training your dog to come when called, and more.  Nearly everything you do can be a quick moment for training.
3. Don’t give commands you can’t back up.  One of the biggest mistakes people make is during training they back up their commands and then every day life they don’t back up commands.  Make sure that as you are integrating the training that you follow through on all commands.

Related Posts:

• Utah Dog Training- Tethering
• Can EVEN Your Dog Be Trained?
• Dog Training And Kids
• Are You Working on Your Dog’s Weakness Right Away?
• The KSL Dog Problem

The post Don’t Have Time to Train Your Dog? Integrate It appeared first on Utah Dog Training.

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We have a lot of dog training clients who are busy like everybody else.  If they aren’t rushing home from work they are rushing away to grab dinner, take the kids to soccer, piano lessons, or go grocery shopping.  Training the dog often takes a back seat to other daily activities.

The truth is…. I can’t blame you.  Today’s busy schedule leaves little time to get your canine buddy trained.

Just because it leaves little time, though, doesn’t mean that it isn’t critical that you get your dog trained.

At CommuniCanine we’ve developed a simple program we call ‘Integration Training’.  What that means is that you don’t need to take special time out of your day to train the dog.  Rather, you need to take advantage of the what you’re doing and integrate the training into your daily activities.

For example, here is a quick video of our head trainer, Joe, doing some training with some of our boot camp dogs:

Here are a few tips for integration training:

1. Always start out with your dog on a leash.  With all of our clients we start out with their dog on a leash, even around the house.  The reason being is that you are always in a position to guide, correct, motivate, etc. if your dog is on a leash.  If your dog isn’t on a leash then your only options are talking to your dog or trying to grab your dog.  Neither of those options are helpful.  Don’t be in a rush to have your dog off leash.  You can’t have an off leash trained dog until you have an on leash trained dog.
2. Use common activities to train.  I’m willing to bet you eat at least a meal at home every day.  Use that 10-30 minutes to train your dog to lie on his bed.  How many times do you go through doorways?  How about taking 5 seconds when you go through a doorway to have your dog wait? Have your dog sit before eating, use backyard ‘potty time’ to work on training your dog to come when called, and more.  Nearly everything you do can be a quick moment for training.
3. Don’t give commands you can’t back up.  One of the biggest mistakes people make is during training they back up their commands and then every day life they don’t back up commands.  Make sure that as you are integrating the training that you follow through on all commands.

We’re in the business of selling dog training to our Utah clients.  In doing so we make a lot of claims and promises.  We tell potential clients about how their dogs will be quickly obedient, will get over behavior problems, will overcome destruction and aggression and more.

Some of the dog owners who come to our company wonder if they, too, can get those kinds of results.  Many of our wonderful clients have often put up with bad dog behavior for so long that they are skeptical of whether or not there is a real solution.

Folks, dogs live very much in the present.  Their present is shaped by their past experiences but that doesn’t mean that if we don’t show them a new way that they won’t quickly start to improve their behavior and start forming new futures based on new presents  (seems very ‘zen’ doesn’t it?).

The following video shows the work of one such client.  She’s been driving in from the Uinta basin over the last few months to work with our head trainer, Joe Tomsich.  This was only their third session, meaning in just two sessions this wonderful dog owner had taken her dog from a couple of rowdy pups to dogs with amazing impulse control even in the face of heavy distractions.

Not only that but this dog owner is heeling with her dogs together, both of them off the leash.  Imagine if you could accomplish that in just a short time?

So how has she done it?

Simple.

We teach that everything within dog training is within your grasp if you have the right:

• Tools- You need the right training tools.  Most folks are walking around with flexi-leashes, harnesses, and all the wrong tools.  Our first training session is always geared to making sure our clients have the right tools for the job.  Would you try to pound in a nail with a shoe or a hammer?  If you choose the hammer you’ll get your job done faster and better.  The same is true with dog training.  So many tools actually prohibit your success.
• Techniques- Many dog owners who come to us for the first time tell us they are being consistent but they just can’t get good results.  Consistency without the right techniques gets you nowhere.  For example, if I want to lose weight and I consistently eat a large pepperoni pizza every single night I’m being HIGHLY consistent with my technique.  It just so happens I’m being consistent with a lousy technique.  That’s where most dog owners are.  Sure they’re being consistent, but with methods that aren’t going to bring results.
• Consistency- Our job at CommuniCanine is to get owners the correct tools and techniques.  The consistency is on them.  We teach a unique system of ‘integration training’ that makes the consistency much, much easier but a dog owner still must show a commitment to consistency.

Whether or not you ever have CommuniCanine be your dog trainers, if you can remember tools, techniques, and consistency you will have much more success in your dog training efforts.

A lot of our clients are fed up and frustrated with their dog’s behavior.  They live with it day in and day out that they get angry at themselves, their dogs, their situation, etc.  I’ve found that many people in this state of mind often think that their dogs are untrainable or their problems are unsolvable.

We’ll often hear skepticism about whether or not their particular brand of aggression can be overcome, or of their dog’s destruction can really calm down. Because they haven’t seen hundreds of dogs do a complete 180 in their behavior they find it hard to believe that their dog would be capable.

The reality (and I don’t usually like to rub this in) is that 99% of the dogs we work with are quite easy to train.  In fact, when we do our Boot Camp dog training programs within the first day we’ve got the dog under control and doing great.  The reason we keep the dog for a few weeks is to work through all issues, proof the training around various distractions, and more.

Every now and then, though, a really tough dog comes along.  For whatever reason, be it genetics or upbringing, we have a harder time getting through.

Such is the case with a recent client of ours.

The owners loved this dog and doted on him.  He didn’t always return the favor, though.  Try to put a collar on him and he’d attack.  Try to guide his rear end into a sitting position and he’d want to bite you.  He’d dominate you by jumping all over you.  With him we were starting from BEHIND the 8-ball because the simple act of putting him on a leash and collar just to START the training meant he’d try to attack.  His owners had scars to prove it.

After years and years of experience I don’t get worried too often but I was nervous about this guy.  How could we see progress if we couldn’t even get a collar on him?

Well, I’m pleased to say that with the work of two dedicated owners and our great training director, Joe Tomsich, they’ve been able to see dramatic turnaround with their dog.  To this day the owners continue to work hard to maintain his training but this dog has made a complete turnaround based on our training program.

So the next time someone is worried they can’t get their dog trained I want to show them the video of the dog who wouldn’t be leashed with some stellar obedience training.

Click here to see the video

We’re thrilled to have helped these folks out and are thrilled to accept their testimonial:

“I am the proud owner of the cute dog in the video above and am amazed by the transformation we’ve seen in him, with the help of CommuniCanine. Rufus has gone from rearing on his back legs, thrashing his neck around, and gnashing his teeth to the point of exhaustion when we would try to put a collar on his neck during our first visit with CommuniCanine to being one of the stars of our group training sessions each month.

He happily sits and waits for us to put on his collars, goes to his “place” when we have guests, and follows commands off leash. CommuniCanine by no means has a magic solution that solved his problems over night – they are simply great trainers with absolute devotion to developing happy, balanced dogs. They worked hard for months on training us to handle him and breaking through to him to get him to the point that he is today.

After our first session or two, we realized that we didn’t have the skills to train Rufus to overcome many of his existing issues (sensitivity to touch, anxiety, fear) that was holding him back from beginning his obedience training. He went to live with Joe as part of the boot camp for six weeks (three times as long as the average dog).

Joe spent a big portion of his day suited up in his bite suit, working with Rufus to overcome his issues and learn to trust in him. After a couple of weeks, Rufus was able to wear a collar with less of a fight and could finally begin his obedience training. Several weeks after that, we were reunited with Rufus who for the first time felt like a dog – carefree, happy, and seeking to please.

We have since done our best to remain consistent with his training and have continued to receive ongoing support from Joe. We are so grateful that we found CommuniCanine and that they were willing to work with Rufus who had always been turned away by others (groomers, vets, daycare centers, pet sitters). We don’t know where we would be if we did not have this intervention. Thank you for believing in Rue and sticking with us!”

We want YOU to be our next testimonial.  Contact us today to get started.

Related Posts:

• Happy Client!
• Don’t Have Time to Train Your Dog? Integrate It
• Are You Working on Your Dog’s Weakness Right Away?
• Boot Camp Dog Training
• Salt Lake City Dog Training- Case Study

The post Can EVEN Your Dog Be Trained? appeared first on Utah Dog Training.

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A lot of our clients are fed up and frustrated with their dog’s behavior.  They live with it day in and day out that they get angry at themselves, their dogs, their situation, etc.  I’ve found that many people in this state of mind often think that their dogs are untrainable or their problems are unsolvable.

We’ll often hear skepticism about whether or not their particular brand of aggression can be overcome, or of their dog’s destruction can really calm down. Because they haven’t seen hundreds of dogs do a complete 180 in their behavior they find it hard to believe that their dog would be capable.

The reality (and I don’t usually like to rub this in) is that 99% of the dogs we work with are quite easy to train.  In fact, when we do our Boot Camp dog training programs within the first day we’ve got the dog under control and doing great.  The reason we keep the dog for a few weeks is to work through all issues, proof the training around various distractions, and more.

Every now and then, though, a really tough dog comes along.  For whatever reason, be it genetics or upbringing, we have a harder time getting through.

Such is the case with a recent client of ours.

The owners loved this dog and doted on him.  He didn’t always return the favor, though.  Try to put a collar on him and he’d attack.  Try to guide his rear end into a sitting position and he’d want to bite you.  He’d dominate you by jumping all over you.  With him we were starting from BEHIND the 8-ball because the simple act of putting him on a leash and collar just to START the training meant he’d try to attack.  His owners had scars to prove it.

After years and years of experience I don’t get worried too often but I was nervous about this guy.  How could we see progress if we couldn’t even get a collar on him?

Well, I’m pleased to say that with the work of two dedicated owners and our great training director, Joe Tomsich, they’ve been able to see dramatic turnaround with their dog.  To this day the owners continue to work hard to maintain his training but this dog has made a complete turnaround based on our training program.

So the next time someone is worried they can’t get their dog trained I want to show them the video of the dog who wouldn’t be leashed with some stellar obedience training.

Click here to see the video

We’re thrilled to have helped these folks out and are thrilled to accept their testimonial:

“I am the proud owner of the cute dog in the video above and am amazed by the transformation we’ve seen in him, with the help of CommuniCanine. Rufus has gone from rearing on his back legs, thrashing his neck around, and gnashing his teeth to the point of exhaustion when we would try to put a collar on his neck during our first visit with CommuniCanine to being one of the stars of our group training sessions each month.

He happily sits and waits for us to put on his collars, goes to his “place” when we have guests, and follows commands off leash. CommuniCanine by no means has a magic solution that solved his problems over night – they are simply great trainers with absolute devotion to developing happy, balanced dogs. They worked hard for months on training us to handle him and breaking through to him to get him to the point that he is today.

After our first session or two, we realized that we didn’t have the skills to train Rufus to overcome many of his existing issues (sensitivity to touch, anxiety, fear) that was holding him back from beginning his obedience training. He went to live with Joe as part of the boot camp for six weeks (three times as long as the average dog).

Joe spent a big portion of his day suited up in his bite suit, working with Rufus to overcome his issues and learn to trust in him. After a couple of weeks, Rufus was able to wear a collar with less of a fight and could finally begin his obedience training. Several weeks after that, we were reunited with Rufus who for the first time felt like a dog – carefree, happy, and seeking to please.

We have since done our best to remain consistent with his training and have continued to receive ongoing support from Joe. We are so grateful that we found CommuniCanine and that they were willing to work with Rufus who had always been turned away by others (groomers, vets, daycare centers, pet sitters). We don’t know where we would be if we did not have this intervention. Thank you for believing in Rue and sticking with us!”

We want YOU to be our next testimonial.  Contact us today to get started.

I am the owner of two very different huskies. My girl, Kona, is 2 and a purebred Siberian. She was typical husky in the sense of bolting and not coming when called. My boy, Makai, is 4 and a mix. I adopted him when he was about 2 and a half, and he and Kona got along perfectly. I was very happy with the adoption. But as time went on, he became aggressive towards certain dogs and even towards certain people. At home, with just me and Kona, he was perfect. He listened and seemed to be very happy, but when I took him out of the house, he became a different dog. It got to the point where I was always on edge whenever we were out. I got to the point, with both of them, that I just couldn’t take the lack of obedience and random aggression anymore. So, I called CommuniCanine. I decided to do boot camp. I spoke to Joe Tomsich, one of their trainers, a couple times before their start date. I was pretty skeptical that bad behaviors would be fixed in both dogs, but he was very calm and reassuring. I emailed him, a pretty long email, a couple days before he came to pick them up. When he got to the house for the pick up, he stood outside (in pretty cold weather, sorry Joe!)  with me and the dogs and talked about all of my concerns and how the program worked. He answered every question and made me feel very comfortable in letting my dogs go live with him for a few weeks. He told me I could call as often as I wanted during the time they were with him. I ended up calling once a week for a check up on their progress. And Joe sent a couple videos of their progress as well. When I called, I didn’t feel like I was a burden or annoyance. I felt important and Joe took the time to update me and answer all of my questions. When he brought them back, it’s like they were different dogs. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. They both came when called, walked off leash, stayed in the down position until released – it was amazing. Joe then spent a few hours with us, showing me how to use the e-collar, teaching me how he trained them, taking them out in public. It was a great experience. And now after a few weeks of having them back, we are a much happier household. I owe it all to Joe. I cannot express how much gratitude I have towards him for not only training my dogs, but treating them like his own.

Related Posts:

• Can EVEN Your Dog Be Trained?
• Great Job Joe!
• Don’t Have Time to Train Your Dog? Integrate It
• Are You Working on Your Dog’s Weakness Right Away?
• About

The post Happy Client! appeared first on Utah Dog Training.

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I am the owner of two very different huskies. My girl, Kona, is 2 and a purebred Siberian. She was typical husky in the sense of bolting and not coming when called. My boy, Makai, is 4 and a mix. I adopted him when he was about 2 and a half, and he and Kona got along perfectly. I was very happy with the adoption. But as time went on, he became aggressive towards certain dogs and even towards certain people. At home, with just me and Kona, he was perfect. He listened and seemed to be very happy, but when I took him out of the house, he became a different dog. It got to the point where I was always on edge whenever we were out. I got to the point, with both of them, that I just couldn’t take the lack of obedience and random aggression anymore. So, I called CommuniCanine. I decided to do boot camp. I spoke to Joe Tomsich, one of their trainers, a couple times before their start date. I was pretty skeptical that bad behaviors would be fixed in both dogs, but he was very calm and reassuring. I emailed him, a pretty long email, a couple days before he came to pick them up. When he got to the house for the pick up, he stood outside (in pretty cold weather, sorry Joe!)  with me and the dogs and talked about all of my concerns and how the program worked. He answered every question and made me feel very comfortable in letting my dogs go live with him for a few weeks. He told me I could call as often as I wanted during the time they were with him. I ended up calling once a week for a check up on their progress. And Joe sent a couple videos of their progress as well. When I called, I didn’t feel like I was a burden or annoyance. I felt important and Joe took the time to update me and answer all of my questions. When he brought them back, it’s like they were different dogs. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. They both came when called, walked off leash, stayed in the down position until released – it was amazing. Joe then spent a few hours with us, showing me how to use the e-collar, teaching me how he trained them, taking them out in public. It was a great experience. And now after a few weeks of having them back, we are a much happier household. I owe it all to Joe. I cannot express how much gratitude I have towards him for not only training my dogs, but treating them like his own.

Canine Good Citizen Class In Utah-

We’re proud and pleased to announce that CommuniCanine is now offering a Canine Good Citizen class in Utah.  The Canine Good Citizen (often referred to as the CGC) is a test that helps dog owners demonstrate that their dogs have good manners both in the house and in public.

From the AKC website we can read a more in depth description:

“The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.”

Canine Good Citizen Class In Utah- Who Should Do This

Many people out there who are already searching for a Canine Good Citizen Class in Utah are already aware of the benefits of this program.  For those who aren’t familiar with this program, however, here are a few reasons you may want to participate:

• It displays that your dog has passed a certain standard for training, temperament, and behavior.  I don’t want to come across as imparting any sort of legal advice but there have been cases in the past where dogs have been seen in a more favorable light when neighbor disputes based on dogs can occur.
• There have been cases around the United States where dog owners who have dogs who pass the Canine Good Citizen Class are required by law to be given home owners insurance.  This has come up in cases where breeds that are seen as dangerous were denied coverage of home owners insurance.
• Working on the Canine Good Citizen Class in Utah is fun.  It’s a good way to do some training, measure your results, hang out with other dog owners, and give your dog a job.
• This is considered a title that your dog can earn and it carries with it a certain feeling of accomplishment and a certain level of prestige.  Having your dog complete this test is a way of showing your skill in training your best friend.
• For many this is a first step in a ‘show or competition career’.  Those who wish to compete in conformation or in obedience titles often like to start with a CGC test as it is a good introduction into more difficult AKC titles like CD, CDX, UD, etc.

Caning Good Citizen Class In Utah- How Can You Get Involved?

We will be offering a few ways to get involved:

1. Our current clients who are enrolled in our Perfect Dog, Perfect Dog Plus, or Boot Camp dog training programs will be allowed to participate in this program at no extra cost.
2. New clients that enroll in Perfect Dog or higher programs will automatically be eligible to earn this title if they wish.
3. For those that aren’t regular clients but feel that they have achieved the level of training necessary to pass this test may come to one of our test days for an evaluation.  An evaluation fee will apply.

So come on out and get your CGC title and have some fun with your dog!

Related Posts:

• Utah Canine Good Citizen- CGC Testing, Evaluation, and…
• Puppy Classes In Utah
• Utah Dog Training
• Training a Personal Protection Dog
• Dog Training Prices

The post Canine Good Citizen Class In Utah- CommuniCanine Now Offers The CGC Evaluation appeared first on Utah Dog Training.

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Canine Good Citizen Class In Utah-

We’re proud and pleased to announce that CommuniCanine is now offering a Canine Good Citizen class in Utah.  The Canine Good Citizen (often referred to as the CGC) is a test that helps dog owners demonstrate that their dogs have good manners both in the house and in public.

From the AKC website we can read a more in depth description:

“The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.”

Canine Good Citizen Class In Utah- Who Should Do This

Many people out there who are already searching for a Canine Good Citizen Class in Utah are already aware of the benefits of this program.  For those who aren’t familiar with this program, however, here are a few reasons you may want to participate:

• It displays that your dog has passed a certain standard for training, temperament, and behavior.  I don’t want to come across as imparting any sort of legal advice but there have been cases in the past where dogs have been seen in a more favorable light when neighbor disputes based on dogs can occur.
• There have been cases around the United States where dog owners who have dogs who pass the Canine Good Citizen Class are required by law to be given home owners insurance.  This has come up in cases where breeds that are seen as dangerous were denied coverage of home owners insurance.
• Working on the Canine Good Citizen Class in Utah is fun.  It’s a good way to do some training, measure your results, hang out with other dog owners, and give your dog a job.
• This is considered a title that your dog can earn and it carries with it a certain feeling of accomplishment and a certain level of prestige.  Having your dog complete this test is a way of showing your skill in training your best friend.
• For many this is a first step in a ‘show or competition career’.  Those who wish to compete in conformation or in obedience titles often like to start with a CGC test as it is a good introduction into more difficult AKC titles like CD, CDX, UD, etc.

Caning Good Citizen Class In Utah- How Can You Get Involved?

We will be offering a few ways to get involved:

1. Our current clients who are enrolled in our Perfect Dog, Perfect Dog Plus, or Boot Camp dog training programs will be allowed to participate in this program at no extra cost.
2. New clients that enroll in Perfect Dog or higher programs will automatically be eligible to earn this title if they wish.
3. For those that aren’t regular clients but feel that they have achieved the level of training necessary to pass this test may come to one of our test days for an evaluation.  An evaluation fee will apply.

So come on out and get your CGC title and have some fun with your dog!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked over the years about which breed is best for a family that has small children, a family who has allergies to dogs, a family that is active, a family that isn’t active, etc.

For years I didn’t know how to respond.  There is such a variety in dogs within the various breeds that it can be next to impossible to say that this breed is better than that breed or this gender will perform better than that gender, etc.

I’ve come up, though, with an answer that I feel is accurate.  It requires a bit of homework on your part in the form of research, interview, etc. but I think it can help people determine just what is the perfect dog breed for their family.  As I’ve shared this advice with many potential dog owners they are sometimes surprised by the response, but I think they understand.

I wrote up a whole article on the subject over on our other site.  Go check it out-

Best Dog Breed For A Family

Related Posts:

• Treat Training Is The Least Humane Way To Train A Dog
• The KSL Dog Problem
• Safe and Sound Watch Dog Training by CommuniCanine
• Utah Protection Dog Training
• Snake Proofing by CommuniCanine

The post How Do You Find The Best Dog Breed For A Family? appeared first on Utah Dog Training.

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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked over the years about which breed is best for a family that has small children, a family who has allergies to dogs, a family that is active, a family that isn’t active, etc.

For years I didn’t know how to respond.  There is such a variety in dogs within the various breeds that it can be next to impossible to say that this breed is better than that breed or this gender will perform better than that gender, etc.

I’ve come up, though, with an answer that I feel is accurate.  It requires a bit of homework on your part in the form of research, interview, etc. but I think it can help people determine just what is the perfect dog breed for their family.  As I’ve shared this advice with many potential dog owners they are sometimes surprised by the response, but I think they understand.

I wrote up a whole article on the subject over on our other site.  Go check it out-

Best Dog Breed For A Family